The Beach Times

Well, you don’t have to bring your skates, even if you want to do some skating, because most ice rinks offer rentals. If you have room in your suitcase, however, pack your skates and save yourself some money, as you’ll have plenty of chances to visit the skating rinks on Cape Cod.

Public skating events provide affordable fun for the entire family, and some arenas even let you rent to whole building for a short period, should you have a large group or want the privacy of skating by yourself.

While ice skating isn't unique to Cape Cod, it is a quintessential winter activity on the east coast and is well worth trying if you're only here for a short time.

Gallo Ice Arena

Those staying in Bourne might want to go for a skate at the John Gallo Ice Arena. This rink hosts skating lessons, hockey classes, and sessions by the Bourne Skating Club starting in the fall, and also has public skating ice times available. Generally, skating is open from noon until 1:30 PM Monday to Friday, although there are exceptions if an event or lesson is occurring at that time. Sunday skates are also possible when the rink is free.

The cost for a skate is $4 for adults and $3 for students. You can rent skates for $3, as well. Keep in mind that there isn't an ATM on-site and it's a cash-only building, so make sure you hit a bank machine prior to arrival to avoid having to make another trip.

Tony Kent Arena

Tony Kent Arena in South Dennis is home to various Cape Cod hockey teams and hosts clinics, lessons, and programs throughout the year. It also has public skating on most Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays, along with pick-up ice hockey on Saturday nights.

Skating at the rink costs $6 for adults, $5 for children 11 and under, and $2 for seniors over the age of 55. If you don't end up bringing your skates on vacation, you can also rent them here for $4. If the ice isn't being used on a particular day, you can rent a private ice time for your group with rates starting at $180 for 50 minutes.

Charles Moore Arena

The Charles Moore Arena in Orleans has figure skating lessons, hockey camps, learn-to-skate programs, and now, in 2018, a curling league. Of course, this arena also offers public skating throughout the winter, with ice times available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM and Sundays from 1:30 – 3:30 PM. The cost is $5 for adults and $4 for kids under 12, with skate rentals being $2.

Falmouth Ice Arena

The Falmouth Ice Arena is home to Falmouth High School's hockey teams, Falmouth Youth Hockey, and the Falmouth Figure Skating Club. There are two rinks here, an NHL rink and a mini rink, so there is plenty of ice to go around. The mini surface has multiple public skating times on Tuesdays and Thursdays and additional openings on some Wednesdays. The larger rink has ice times on most Friday nights, with some Wednesday sessions, as well.

Hyannis Youth & Community Center

The newest and most impressive facility on this list is the Hyannis Youth & Community Center, a multi-use complex owned and operated by the Town of Barnstable. The building features two skating rinks, a gymnasium, meeting rooms, a skate park, an indoor walking track, and a game room, so there's plenty to do there throughout the year.

Public skating is available pretty much every day at the facility, with weekday public skating taking place between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, Sunday skates running from 2:10 – 4:00 PM, and Saturday skates going from 4:00 – 5:20 PM. There are also stroller skates, family skates, and stick practices on various days throughout the week.

The cost of a public skate at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center is $7 for adults, $5 for kids 17 and under, and $2 for seniors aged 62 and up. Skate rentals are available for $5, and skate sharpening costs $6 per pair.

Outdoor Skating Rinks

Although the ponds on Cape Cod occasionally freeze over during the winter, local officials do not recommend skating on them. The main reason is that most of these bodies are kettle ponds that have currents and are fed by streams, making it difficult for them to freeze evenly. If you find yourself on a thin section of ice, you could easily fall through and end up in serious trouble, so it's a good idea to stick to safer sheets of ice.

Some towns set up free public outdoor rinks in the winter, with Brewster and West Yarmouth being recent examples. It remains to be seen if we'll have any outdoor skating in 2018, as it's always weather-dependent. Check the website of the town you’re staying in closer to your arrival date for more information on outdoor skating availability.

Some Real Winter Fun

If you’re coming to the Cape in the winter, experiencing some winter activities is a must, and ice skating is a pleasant way to start. If you’ve never skated before, a public skating time at a local rink is a great way to ease yourself into it, but remember to bring a helmet with you for safety’s sake.

You should also be aware that public skating schedules are dynamic, as special events, private rentals, and hockey tournaments can disrupt their timing. As a result, always check the calendar on the rink’s website before heading there.

Cape Cod has so much going on in the winter that you’ll never be short on things to see and do. Book your vacation rental today and don’t miss out on experiencing winter like it’s meant to be.

Yarmouth, Dennis, W. Barnstable & Barnstable Village

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